10 years ago
A Kansas House committee is preparing to debate proposals for raising taxes to erase a budget shortfall. The Taxation Committee planned Monday to discuss various revenue-raising proposals. Legislative researchers say lawmakers must eliminate a $422 million deficit in the state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Budget problems arose after the Republican-dominated Legislature aggressively cut ...

10 years ago
Kansas legislators must wrap up their business for the year within a week to avoid having their annual 90-day session go into overtime. Lawmakers were returning Monday to the Statehouse without having drafted a plan for raising taxes to close a budget shortfall and with a full plate of other issues. It was the 85th day of ...

10 years ago
Public school districts across Kansas are cutting programs, shedding jobs, ending the school year early and blaming it all on the state's new school funding law. Meanwhile, conservative Republican officials behind the law tout it as a generous step forward for education. Supporters contend the law provides stability for the state's 286 school districts and will boost ...

10 years ago
Supporters of a broad bill that would ease marijuana laws wending its way through the Kansas Legislature claim it's a narrow enough set of reforms that conservative Republicans can vote for it. They also say it demonstrates a shift in the long-running discussion. Kansas' GOP-dominated House passed the bill by a wide margin Thursday, making it the ...

10 years ago
The launch of the 2015 SculptureTour Salina was a mix of smiles, rain showers and conversations about the twenty-five new works unveiled in downtown Saturday. Laurel Talley of Salina marveled at the craftsmanship in “Daughters of Peace,” a sculpture that depicts the daughter of a white settler and daughter of a Native American mother sharing a ...

10 years ago
A woman was hit by a car while crossing a busy street in South Salina late Saturday afternoon. The accident happened at the intersection of Ohio and Albert Streets, at 3:52 in the afternoon. Salina Police Officer Rande Repp told KSAL News at the scene that 31-year-old Sunshine Gibson of Salina was struck by a small passenger ...

10 years ago
Forecasters are warning of the possibility of severe weather across Kansasa today. According to the National Weather Service, two rounds of storms are expected, one this afternoon and one this evening. The storms this afternoon will pose a risk for hail up to quarter size and 60 mph winds. More robust storms are expected this evening with the stronger ...

10 years ago
A bill that would have required some Kansas universities to publicize information on their graduates' average salaries, student loan debt and employment has stalled in a House committee. House Education Committee chairman Ron Highland, a Wamego Republican, said he adjourned a hearing on the bill early Thursday to prevent members from tabling it until next session. ...

10 years ago
A top Kansas education official has testified in court about how the state trimmed aid to public schools by nearly $54 million under a new law. Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis faced questions Friday in Shawnee County District Court. A three-judge panel is considering whether to block the new school funding law that took effect in ...

10 years ago
A new government ranking shows Kansas no longer leads the nation in wheat production after the drought-plagued 2014 crop. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Friday that the state has dropped to second behind North Dakota in wheat production. Kansas farmers brought in just 246.4 million bushels of wheat during last year's drought. The state grew ...

10 years ago
Area leaders gathered Friday at Salina's Community Theatre for encouragement, new ideas and a boost at the end of the workweek at Leadercast Salina 2015. The event was highlighted by big screen appearances by Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, authors Seth Godin and Andy Stanley plus former Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver. Organizer Matt Davis with Third Strategy ...